Modular demountable wall system

ABSTRACT

A MODULAR, DEMOUNTABLE WALL SYSTEM IS DISCLOSED INCLUDING ONE-PIECE SHEET METAL STUDS AND SNAP-ON BATTENS FOR LOCATING AND RETAINING PRE-CUT WALL PANELS. FLOOR AND CEILING CHANNELS ARE ALSO PROVIDED FROM SPACING AND LOCATING THE BOTTOM AND TOP EDGES OF THE WALLS PANELS AND, SIMILARLY, STARTING, FINISHING AND GLAXING CHANNELS ARE PROVIDED FOR THE VERTICAL EDGES OF THE END PANELS AND FOR AROUND THE WINDOW OPENINGS. REVERSIBLE METAL DOOR FREAMING ELEMENTS ARE ALSO PROVIDED WITH UNIVERSAL CORNER CONNECTORS AND ANCHORS FOR ATTACHING THE DOOR FRAMING ELEMENTS TO THE STUDS OF THE WALL SYSTEM SO THAT THE DOOR MAY BE HINGED TO SWING INWARDLY OR OUTWARDLY FROM EITHER ITS RIGHT OR LEFT SIDE.

' March 9, 1971 T. E. JUDKINS ETAL 3,568,383

MODULAR DEMOUNTABLE WALL SYSTEM Filed Oct. 15, 1968 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 i i 70 I i 65 \rnA ruI L 93 5 93 4Q 68 \I HO I are d Z aim) TTORMEY.

March 9, 1971 T. E. JUDKINS ET AL 3,558,333

MODULAR DEMOUNTABLE WALL SYSTEM Filed Oct. 15, 1968 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 QF 7 Z ORIOEI March 9, 1971 T. E. JUDKINS ETAL MODULAR DEMOUNTABLE WALL SYSTEM Filed Oct. 15. 1968 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 552 2.20

J 3% I T v a/ M a a 1m March 1971 T. E. JUDKINS ErAL MODULAR DEMOUNTABLE WALL SYSTEM 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 15, 1968 50 l viam -ro mg Ctfh-rcnms y United States Patent 3 568 383 MODULAR DEMOI JNTABLE WALL SYSTEM Thomas E. Judkins and Michael J. Kedel, Baltimore, Md., assignors to Eastern Products Corporation, Baltimore,

Filed Oct. 15, 1968, Ser. No. 767,727 Int. Cl. E06b 1/12 US. Cl. 52210 29 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A modular, demonntable wall system is disclosed including one-piece sheet metal studs and snap-on battens for locating and retaining pre-cut wall panels. Floor and ceiling channels are also provided for spacing and locating the bottom and top edges of the wall panels and, similarly, starting, finishing and glazing channels are provided for the vertical edges of the end panels and for around the window openings. Reversible metal door framing elements are also provided with universal corner connectors and anchors for attaching the door framing elements to the studs of the wall system so that the door may be hinged to swing inwardly or outwardly from either its right or left side.

This invention relates to modular wall systems and more particularly concerns readily demonntable wall framing components.

Conventional wall framing employs wooden studs, sills and headers to which a finished surface such as a wall panel may be attached usually by nails. Recently modular wall sections have been prefabricated using the same types of materials but employing adhesives or high speed production fastening equipment. Neither the conventional wall framing nor the prefabricated wall sections, however, are readily disassemblable into their individual compo nents.

In other wall systems there have been some attempts made to substitute metal framing elements for the Wooden ones. For the most part, however, these prior wall systems have lacked versatility and have employed cumbersome and awkward connectors for joining the framing elements together and for securing the wall panels thereto.

Accordingly, it is the primary aim of the present invention to provide a modular wall system including cooperating sheet metal framing and finishing components which may be economically fabricated and readily assembled and disassembled.

A more particular object is to provide one-piece stud and batten elements with snap-fitting portions dimensioned to snugly retain pre-cut wall panels between the stud and batten and to receive and retain other metal finishing elements between opposingly mounted battens without the use of other connectors.

It is a similar object to provide a sheet metal floor channel adapted to cooperate with the studs and battens and with a self-retaining floor molding clip and also to provide self-retaining glazing and finishing channels which cooperate with the studs and battens.

Another object is to provide a sheet metal door frame with preformed, reversible strike and hinge jambs which, when properly oriented, permit swinging the door from either side and in either direction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be "Ice apparent upon reading the detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled section of the modular, demonntable wall system and reversible door jambs of the present invention;

FIGS. 24 are enlarged fragmentary sections taken respectively along the lines 22, 33, and 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 66 in FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7-10 are enlarged fragmentary sections taken respectively along the lines 7-7, 8-8, 9--9, and 1010 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective with a portion broken out of a one-piece sheet metal stud of the invention;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of a cooperating one-piece sheet metal batten;

FIGS. 13 and 14 are enlarged perspective views, respectively, of upper and lower door framing connectors;

FIGS. 15 and 16 are enlarged fragmentary perspective views, respectively, of floor channel and starting channel elements;

FIGS. 17 and 18 are end views, respectively, of onepiece sheet metal offset and intermediatestuds;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 1919 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged fragmentary section similar to FIG. 3 showing intersecting walls;

FIG. 21 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective, partially in section, of a hinge side door jamb and door;

FIG. 22 is an enlarged end view of a stud, a pair of bolters, and a pair of finishing channels arranged as a column;

FIG. 23 is an enlarged perspective of a glazing channel support;

FIGS. 24 and 25 are two enlarged perspective views of a stud locating and retaining clip with a modification of the clip illustrated in FIG. 25 by full and dash lines;

FIGS. 26 and 27 are enlarged partial perspective views, respectively, of a floor molding retainer and a piece of floor molding;

FIG. 28 is an enlarged section of the door strike jamb;

FIGS. 29 and 30 are enlarged fragmentary sections taken along line 2929 in FIG. 28 and along line 30-30 in FIG. 29, respectively;

FIG. 31 is an enlarged section of the door hinge jamb; and

FIG. 32 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line 32-32. in FIG. 31.

Turning now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a portion of modular, demonntable wall embracing the features of the present invention. As shown here, the front wall 30 extends between the floor and ceiling but the side wall 31 extends from the floor only about twothirds of the distance to the ceiling. The front wall includes a plurality of pre-cut wall panels 32, 33, and 34-, a door 35, and windows 36 which are located and held in place by the framing and finishing elements of the present invention as described below.

In the preferred embodiment, the wall system of the present invention is designed to locate and retain inside and outside wall panels 32 in spaced apart relation as seen for example in FIGS. 2-4. It should be understood, however, that many features of the invention do not depend on the presence of double wall panels and, for economy, one wall panel may be omitted if desired.

To connect the Wall to an existing wall 37, a starter channel is provided. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 16 the starter channel is of one-piece sheet metal construction having a generally U-shaped cross section with a back portion 41 adapted to be screwed or otherwise fastened to an existing wall 37 with the legs 42 of the channel facing outwardly. A plurality of alternating tabs 43 are struck from the back 41 so as to form with the legs 42 a pair of laterally spaced grooves 44 for locating and retaining the edges of a pair of wall panels 32 in spaced apart relation. Preferably, the projecting end of each of the tabs 43 is angled inwardly to form a cam surface 45 for guiding the wall panels 32 into the respective grooves 44. To stiffen the tabs 43 a plurality of corrugations 46 are pressed into the metal where the base of the tabs and the back 41 merge. The terminal portion of each of the legs is also formed with an inwardly rolled bead 47 which engages the outer surface of the respective wall panel 32.

As shown in FIG. 7 the lower edge of each of the wall panels 32 rests on the short leg 50 of a generally L-shaped molding support 51 whose long leg 52 extends vertically outside the panel. The upper edge of the leg 52 is bent in the shape of a marginal clip 53 for receiving the doubled back edge 54 of a floor molding strip 55 (see FIGS. 26 and 27). Additional clip segments 56 are struck from the leg 52 and receive another lip 57 of the molding strip 55 which is preferably an extrusion of rubber or plastic material.

To keep the lower edges of the panels 32 spaced apart, a generally U-shaped floor channel 60- is inserted between them. A shallow, relatively wide groove 61 is pressed upwardly in the underside of the back of the floor channel and engages an upstanding head 62 formed along the edge of the short leg 50 of the molding support 51. Desirably, the legs 63 of the floor channel converge slightly inwardly, when in an unstressed condition (see FIG. 15), and the width of the channel is dimensioned to receive the lower end of a stud 70 to be described below) which upon insertion in the channel spreads the legs 63 outwardly into engagement with the wall panels 32 as shown in FIG. 7.

The top edges of the wall panels 32 are located and retained within a ceiling channel 65 the back 66 of which is screwed or otherwise secured to the ceiling with the legs 67 extending downwardly (see FIG. 19). The lower edge of each of the legs is preferably finished with an inwardly rolled bead '68 adapted to engage the outer surface of the wall panels 32.

In accordance with the invention, the intermediate vertical edges of the wall panels 32 are located and held in place by one-piece sheet metal studs 70 and snap-on, one-piece sheet metal battens 80. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 11, the elongated stud 70 has a generally channel shaped cross section with a relatively short fin 71 projecting outwardly substantially perpendicularly from adjacent the midpoint of each of the channel legs 72. The outer portion of each of the channel legs 72 is formed by outwardly doubling back the sheet metal and the inner thickness of the doubled back portion is offset inwardly so that the width of the stud on both sides of the fin 71 is substantially equal. The fin 71 extends along the major portion of stud length, but is cut away at the bottom of the stud as shown in FIG. 11 to facilitate insertion of the stud within the floor channel 60, as described above.

The outer extremity of the fin 71 terminates in a bead 73 of generally circular cross section adapted to be received in a complementary recess 84 formed in the batten 80. The batten is formed with a generally T- shaped cross section with a relatively wide cross bar 81 and a short leg 82 terminating with a pair of divergent cam surfaces 83 leading into the recess 84. Thus, the batten may be snapped on the stud 70 to sandwich the edge portion of a wall panel 32 between the inner face of the batten cross bar 81 and the outer face of one stud leg 72 on either side of the fin 71 (see FIGS. 3 and 4 for example). For locating and separating the edges of the wall panels 32 from the stud head 73, the stud leg 72 is formed with a longitudinally extending, outwardly projecting ridge 74 on either side of the fin 71.

As best seen in FIG. 12, the batten cross bar 81 is formed of a double thickness of sheet metal with the inner thickness doubled back under the outer thickness to substantially the midpoint of the cross bar where it is bent inwardly at substantially a right angle to form one side of the batten leg 82. Preferably, each of the outer edges of the cross bar 81 is formed with a nearly circular cross section where the sheet metal is doubled back. Furthermore, the diameter of this section is more than twice the thickness of the sheet metal of the cross bar and forms an arcuate lip adjacent the outer edge of the inner thickness for engagement with the face of one of the wall panels 32.

It will be appreciated that the fin 71 and bead 73 on the stud and the leg 82 and recess 84 of the batten are so dimensioned that the edges of the panels 32 are firmly and securely held between the stud and batten. In this regard, the arcuate lip 85 on each edge of the batten cross bar 81 serves to enhance the gripping action on the panels by slightly biasing the cross bar when the batten 80 is snapped into position on the stud 70.

In order to position and anchor the top end of the stud 70 within the ceiling channel 65 a stud locating clip is inserted in the channel and anchored to the ceiling with a screw or other suitable means, (see FIG. 19). As shown in FIGS. 24 and 25 the stud locating clip 90 has a back 91 dimensioned to fit within the ceiling channel 65 and is formed with depending legs 92, 93 and 94. The leg 94 on one side of the clip 90 is formed to lie slightly out of the plane of the other pair of legs 93 and thus defined a slot 95 between the legs 93 and 94. The slot 95 is dimensioned to receive the back portion of the stud channel as shown in FIG. 19.

To close the end of the wall 30, a finshing channel is inserted into the space between opposed battens 80. The finishing channel 100 is of one-piece construction having a generally channel shaped cross section with legs 101 dimensioned substantially equal to the width of the batten cross bar from the lip 85 to the batten leg 82 (see FIG. 8). The back portion 102 of the finishing channel 100 has a width substantially equal to the distance between the pair of battens 80 mounted opposingly on the stud 70. An angled corner 103 between the back 102 and each of the legs 101 of the channel is provided for engagement by the lip 85 at the edge of the battens 80 to retain the finishing channel.

In the foregoing the necessary parts have been described to start and finish a straight wall section 30 which extends from floor to ceiling. The accommodate doors 35, windows 36 and lower wall sections 31 it is necessary to provide horizontal supporting elements such as headers and sills.

Pursuant to the present invention the studs 70 may be mounted vertically as previously described or they may be arranged horizontally to function as headers and sills. Referring again to FIG. 1 it will be seen that the windows 36 are mounted above the short wall panels 34 in the illustrative embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7 a stud 70 is disposed horizontally with the ridges 74 of the channels legs supporting the stud on the upper edges of the panels 34. The horizontal stud is also anchored at each end to a vertical stud by means of a stud locating clip 90 (see FIG. 10).

When the stud locating clip is used in this manner the back portion 91 is formed with a channel-like configuration dimensioned to overlie the channel shaped back of one of the studs. To facilitate forming the clip 90 this way the back 91 is provided with lightening holes 95 which permit two ends of the back to be easily and accurately bent into the channel-like configuration seen in FIG. 25. In addition the legs 92 and 93 of the clip are desirably stiffened by means of substantially U-shaped corrugations 96 pressed into the metal where the legs 92 and 93 merge into the back 91. For convenience the end portions of the back 91 may also be provided with openings 97 for receiving screws which are used to attach the clip to a stud as seen in FIG. 10.

Mounted above the horizontal stud 70 in FIG. 7 is a window glazing channel 110 formed generally similar to the finishing channel 100. The back of the glazing channel is preferably formed with a shallow groove 111 dimensioned to receive a glazing strip 112 which holds the window pane 113. It will be understood that the glazing strip 112, which is not part of the present invention and is illustrated schematically in the drawings, may be adhesively secured in the groove 111 of the glazing channel 110.

In order to support the additional weight of the window 36 a plurality of support elements .115 are spaced at horizontal intervals between the horizontal stud 70 and the glazing channel 110. As best seen in FIGS. 7 and 23, the support elements 115 are provided with vertically disposed legs 116 dimensioned to straddle the back portion of the stud and support the under surface of the back of the glazing channel.

Additional sections of glazing channel 110 are, of course, provided for the sides and tops of each of the windows 36. At the sides the glazing channels are held in place by battens 80 opposingly mounted on one of the studs 70 as shown in FIG. 10. The upper glazing channel is inserted in the ceiling channel 65 and is engaged by the beads 68 as seen in FIG. 9.

When it is desired to form additional wall sections at right angles to the wall 30 additional starter channels 40 may be attached directly to the panels 32. In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 20 each of the starter channels spans the gap between the edges of a pair of the panels 32. In these instances although a twobeaded stud 70 could be employed this is not necessary. Instead, a one-beaded stud 76 (see FIG. 17) is provided for a T-wall connection and an inter-mediate, non-beaded stud 78 (see FIG. 18) is provided for a cross-wall intersection. It will be understood, of course, that the starter channels 40 need not always be located so as to span the joint between a pair of wall panels 32 and in these cases the provision for one-beaded studs 76 and non-beaded stud 78 is of even greater importance.

In further keeping with the present invention provision made for installing a door 35 in the modular demountable wall 30 constructed of the above described components. To this end, a door frame including a hinge side door jamb 120, strike side door jamb 121 and a header 122 are provided. Also, in the preferred embodiment these door frame components are all formed with identical cross sections and designed so that the door may be hinged on the left or the right side and may be swung either inwardly or outwardly.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6, 19, 28 and 32 it will be seen that the jambs 120, i121 and header 122 are of generally open channel configuration with a laterally offset door stop 123 formed to project from the face of the channel back into the doorway. Preferably the width of the main portion of the jambs 120, 121 and header 122 is slightly greater than the wall 30 and the channel legs include include inwardly offset portions 124 dimensioned for insertion between and engagement by the edge portions of a pair of opposingly mounted battens 80 (see FIGS. 4 and 6).

In the illustrated embodiment, the door 35 is hinged along its right side (as seen in FIG. 1) by three hinges and top edges of the door engage a resilient cushioning strip 128 attached to the faces of the door stops 123 formed on the jambs 120, 121, and header 122 (see FIG. 4).

Turning to FIGS. 21, 31 and 32 it will be seen that a hinge receiving aperture 129 is provided in the hinge side jamb for each of the hinges 126, only one of which is shown here. A hinge reinforcing and attachment mem ber 130 is also secured to the back of the hinge jamb so as to span each of the apertures 129. Suitable means such as machine screws or bolts 131 are also provided for attaching one plate of each hinge 126 to its respective attaching member 130.

The strike side jamb 121 is provided with a latch aperture 132 struck from the face thereof to leave an opening and a pair of recessed mounting tabs 133 dimensioned to receive a strike plate 134 which may be secured thereto by screws 134a (see FIGS. 28-30).

In keeping with the invention, the hinge apertures and latch apertures are symmetrically located with respect to the length of the respective hinge and strike side jambs 120, 121. Also each of the jambs 120, 121 has a longitudinal dimension greater than that of the door 35 installed therein and the end portions of the door stop 123 is removed to leave a recess 135 dimensioned to receive the door stop of the respective hinge and strike side jamb. As an example, if a door opening height of 80 inches is desired the jambs 120, 121 are preferably made 80% inches long with the respective hinge apertures and latch apertures symmetrically located along the length of the jambs. This places the center line of the latch plate'at 40 4 inches from the floor regardless of which end of the strike jamb is down. This not only accommodates standard metal doors with a latch located at 40 inches from the floor but also permits reversal of the jamb while providing a inch length of the door stop 123 to project into and be retained within the recess 135 formed in the header 122. In like manner, the hinge side jamb 120 can accommodate a standard 80 inch metal door with either a two or a three hinge arrangement since in either case the bottom hinge center line is located 10% inches from the floor and the top hinge 9% inches from the top of the opening or a difference of /8 inch. If a middle hinge is used, as in the illustrated embodiment, it is located, like the latch, with its center line 40 7 inches from the floor.

The foregoing construction of the jambs and header makes it possible to hinge the door to swing in any of four different directions. It will be apparent, of course, that in addition to the arrangement shown and described above, the entire door frame assembly can be rotated through 180 about a vertical axis so that the door is hinged at the left as seen in FIG. 1 to swing inwardly of the wall 30. In addition, the header can be left in its present position and the jambs can be rotated through 180" about a horizontal axis. This would place the hinge jamb on the left and strike jamb on the right in FIG. 1 with the door mounted to swing outwardly. Finally by rotating this latter arrangement through 180 about a vertical axis the door would then be hinged on the right to swing inwardly.

To permit such universal mounting of the door 35 as described above a door frame corner connector is provided to secure the header 122 and one of the door jambs 120, 121 to vertical and horizontal studs disposed parallel, respectively, to the jamb and header. As shown in FIG. 13, the corner connector 140 is of generally channel shaped cross section with a bridge section 141 and a pair of upstanding legs 142, 143 which are laterally spaced to straddle the back of the studs (see FIG. 6).

At one end of the connector 140, a pair of vertically disposed tabs 142a and 143a are struck inwardly from the legs 142, 143 to support the end of the horizontally disposed stud 70 (see FIG. 5). Also a pair of horizontally disposed tabs 14217 and 143b are turned inwardly of the legs 142, 143 at the other end of the connector 140 and these tabs are adapted to abut the vertically disposed stud 70 (see FIG. 6). Preferably, the marginal edge portions of each of the legs 142, 143 are provided with apertures 142e, 143a adjacent the respective tabs for receiving sheet metal screws to secure the connector to the horizontal and vertical studs.

To accommodate one of the door jambs 120, 121 the bridge section 141 of the connector 140 is cut away in the area adjacent the horizontally disposed tabs 142e, 1436. In addition each of the legs 142, 143 is formed with a pair of downwardly opening slots 142d, 142e and 143d, 1432 cut into the bottom edge thereof and dimensioned to receive the metal of the face and the door stop 123 portion of the door jamb 120, 121. It will also be seen that the bridge section of the connector is also cut away in the area of these slots so as to accommodate the door stop 123 when located laterally on either side of the jamb. The bridge section is further provided with an upstanding tab 145 formed integrally therewith and located in the plane of slots 142e and 143a so as to engage the face portion of the door jamb (see FIG. 6). Thus, it will be seen that each of the corner connectors 140 is symmetrically formed to receive and retain the door jambs 120, 121 regardless of whether the door 35 is hinged on the left or the right to swing inwardly or outwardly from the wall 30.

For connecting the bottom end of each of the jambs 120, 121 to the adjacent vertically disposed stud 75, a bottom anchor 150 is provided. As shown in FIG. 14 the anchor 150 is also of generally channel shaped cross section and is formed with a bridge section 151 and a wide pair 152, 153 and a narrow pair 154, 155 of upstanding legs. The narrow pair of legs is dimensioned to straddle the legs of floor channel 60 and the wide pair of legs is dimensioned to be received within the space behind the face of the door jambs 120, 121 as shown in FIG. 4. Suitable apertures 156 are formed in the legs 154, 155 for receiving sheet metal screws to secure the anchor to the stud and another aperture 157 is located in the bridge section to receive a lag screw or the like to fasten the anchor to the floor. The bridge section 151 is also formed with an upstanding tab 158 which abuts the back of the vertical stud 70 and thereby establishes the proper spacing of the legs 152, 153 and the bottom of the jamb from the stud.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a modular, demountable wall system for locating and supporting a plurality of precut wall panels, the combination comprising, channel means for holding said panels in an erected position, said channel means including a one-piece sheet metal stud of substantial length having a generally open channel-shaped cross section defining a substantially unobstructed interior space and having a relatively short, outwardly projecting fin disposed substantially perpendicularly to one of the channel legs adjacent the midpoint thereof and running along the major portion of stud length, said fin formed with a bead of generally circular cross section at the outer extremity thereof, and a one-piece sheet metal batten of substantial length having a generally T -shaped cross section defining a relatively wide cross bar and a short leg, said leg tel.- minating with a pair of divergent cam surfaces leading into a recess of substantially circular cross section running along the major portion of batten length, said recess dimensioned to receive and retain said bead therein Whereby the edge portion of one of said wall panels may be sandwiched between the inner face of said batten cross bar and the outer face of said one stud leg on either side of said fin.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said stud is formed with a beaded fin projecting perpendicularly from adjacent the midpoint of both channel legs and including a pair of one-piece battens with bead receiving recesses formed therein whereby the edge portions of a pair of said wall panels may be sandwiched between each of said battens and said stud on each side of said stud.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said 8 one channel leg is formed with a longitudinally extending, outwardly projecting ridge on either side of said fin for locating and separating the edges of adjacent wall panels from said bead.

4. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein the outer portion of said one channel leg is formed by outwardly doubling back the sheet metal thereof to substantially the midpoint thereof where it is bent perpendicularly outwardly to form said fin and the inner thickness of said doubled back leg portion is offset inwardly whereby the width of said stud on both sides of said fin is substantially equal.

5. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said cross bar of said T-shaped batten is formed of a double thickness of sheet metal in which the inner thickness is doubled back under the outer thickness to substantially the midpoint of said cross bar where said metal is bent inwardly at substantially a right angle tofsaid cross bar to form one side of said batten leg.

6. The combination defined in claim 5 wherein the outer edges of said cross bar are formed with a nearly circular cross section of a diameter greater than the double thickness of said cross bar and substantially tangent to the outer thickness thereof whereby a longitudinally extending, arcuate lip is formed adjacent the outer edge of the inner thickness thereof for engagement with the face of one of said wall panels.

7. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said channel means also includes an elongated starter channel having a generally U-shaped cross section with a back portion adapted to be afiixed to an existing surface with the legs of said starter channel facing outwardly and having a plurality of alternating tabs struck from said back portion and formed to define with said legs a pair of laterally spaced grooves within said starter channel for locating and retaining the edges of a pair of said wall panels in spaced apart relation a distance substantially equal to the width of the channel-shaped back of said stud.

8. The combination defined in claim 7 wherein the projecting end of each of said tabs is angled inwardly of said channel to form a cam surface for guiding said wall panels into said respective grooves.

9. The combination defined in claim 7 wherein the portion of said back which merges into said respective alternating tabs is formed with a plurality of stiffening corrugations pressed into said back and tabs.

10. The combination defined in claim 7 wherein the terminal portion of each of said channel legs is formed with an inwardly rolled bead for engagement with the outer surface of said respective wall panels.

. 11. The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said starter channel is affixed to the outer face of said batten cross bar to receive a pair of spaced apart wall panels disposed perpendicular to and spanning the joint separating a pair of aligned wall panels.

12. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said channel means also includes an elongated bottom channel having a generally U-shaped cross section dimensioned to fit between a pair of wall panels spaced apart by said stud and located adjacent the floor with the legs of said bottom channel extending upwardly, a shallow, relatively Wide groove pressed upwardly in the underside of the back portion of said bottom channel, and an L-shaped molding support having a short leg dimensioned to fit under one of said panels and formed with an upstanding bead adjacent the terminal edge of said short leg for engagement with one edge of said groove, said molding support having a long leg disposed vertically outside said panel and having clip segments thereon for attachment of a molding strip.

13. The combination defined in claim 12 wherein the legs of said bottom channel converge slightly inwardly when in an unstressed condition and the width of said channel is dimensioned to receive the lower end of said.

- 9 stud which upon insertion in said channel urges said legs outwardly into engagement with said wall panels.

14. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said channel means also includes an elongated finishing channel having a generally channel shaped cross section with legs dimensioned substantially equal in length to the width of said batten cross bar from the edge thereof to said batten leg and the back portion of said finishing channel having a width substantially equal to the distance between a pair of said battens mounted opposingly on said stud, whereby the space between said opposed battens may be closed by insertion of the legs of said finishing channel therein in place of one pair of said panels.

15. The combination defined in claim 14 wherein a pair of said finishing channels are opposingly inserted between a pair of opposing battens in place of said pairs of panels to form a closed column.

16. The combination defined in claim 14 wherein said finishing channel is formed with an angled corner between said back and each of said legs and the edge of said batten is formed with a lip to engage said corner and retain said finishing channel 17. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said channel means also includes an elongated ceiling channel and means for locating said stud within said ceiling channel, said ceiling channel having a generally inverted U- shaped cross section dimensioned to fit over a pair of wall panels spaced apart by said stud, the legs of said ceiling channel each terminating with an inwardly rolled bead for engagement with the outer surface of the respective panel received therein.

18. The combination defined in claim 17 wherein said stud locating means includes a stud locating clip having a back dimensioned to fit within said ceiling channel and having a plurality of depending legs defining a slot therebetween for receiving the back portion of said channel shaped stud.

19. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said channel means also includes a stud locating clip having a channel shaped back dimensioned to overlie the channel shaped back of said stud and having a plurality of outwardly projecting legs defining a slot therebetween for securing the back portion of a second of said studs located at right angles to said first stud.

20. The combination defined in claim 19 wherein said first stud is vertically disposed and said second stud is disposed with said channel opening downwardly and including a second pair of opposingly mounted battens on said second stud to sandwich the top edges of one of said pairs of wall panels.

21. The combination defined in claim 20 wherein said channel means also includes an elongated glazing channel and means for supporting said glazing channel, said glazing channel having a generally U-shaped cross section with depending legs dimensioned to fit within the open space between said opposed battens above their respective batten legs and having a back portion formed with a shallow groove therein adapted to receive a window glazing strip.

22. The combination defined in claim 21 wherein said supporting means includes a plurality of glazing channel support elements spaced at horizontal intervals between said horizontal stud and said glazing channel, said support elements having vertically disposed legs dimensioned to straddle the back portion of said stud channel and to support the under surface of the back portion of said glazing channel.

23. The combination defined in claim 17 wherein said channel means also includes an elongated glazing channel having a generally U-shaped cross section dimensioned laterally to fit within and be retained by said ceiling channel and dimensioned longitudinally to fit between a pair of vertical studs in place of said pair of wall panels, said glazing channel having a back portion formed with a shallow groove therein adapted to receive a window glazing strip.

.24. The combination defined in claim 19 wherein the juncture of said back and at least one of said legs of said clip is stiffened by deforming the metal thereof into a substantially V-shaped corrugation.

25. The combination defined in claim 19 wherein the back of said clip formed with at least a pair of laterally spaced lightening holes therein to facilitate bending the end portions of said back so as to straddle the back of said first stud.

26. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said channel means also includes a door frame comprising a pair of door jambs and a header roll-formed of sheet metal and means for connecting same, said jambs and header having identical cross sectional shapes including a laterally offset door stop projecting from the face thereof into the doorway, said pair of door jambs including a hinge side jamb and a strike side jamb, said hinge side jamb formed with symmetrically located apertures struck from the face thereof and each dimensioned to receive a hinge plate, a hinge reinforcing and attachment member secured to the back of said hinge jamb spanning each of said apertures, said strike side formed with a symmetrically located latch aperture struck from the face thereof to leave an opening and a pair of recessed mounting tabs dimensioned to receive a strike plate, said pair of jambs having a longitudinal dimension greater than that of the door to be installed therein, and said header having both end portions of the door stop formed therein removed to leave a recess dimensioned to receive the door stop portion of said respective hinge side and strike side jambs whereby said jambs are reversible both end to end and side to side with the excess longitudinal portion thereof extending above the face of said header.

27. The combination defined in claim 26 wherein said jambs and header are formed of a generally channel shaped cross section with the bridge portion thereof forming the face from which said door stop portion projects and the leg portions thereof are stepped in at their outer extremities and laterally spaced apart to be received within the space between the edges of a pair of opposingly mounted battens.

28. The combination defined in claim 26 wherein said connecting means includes a corner connector adapted to fit at the intersection of said header and one of said jambs and to be connected to vertical and horizontal studs disposed parallel, respectively, to said jamb and said header, said connector being of generally channel shaped cross section with a bridge section and upstanding legs dimensioned to straddle the back of said studs, said legs having at one end a pair of vertically disposed tabs struck inwardly thereof and adapted to support the end of said horizontally disposed stud, a pair of horizontally disposed tabs turned inwardly of said legs at the other end thereof and adapted to register with said vertically disposed stud, said bridge section being cut away in the area of said horizontally disposed tabs and to accommodate said door stop on said jamb when located laterally on either side of the jamb, said legs each having a pair of downwardly opening slots cut into the bottom edge thereof and dimensioned to receivethe metal of the face and the door stop portion of said jamb depending on the lateral location of said stop, and said bridge section having an upstanding tab formed therewith and located in the plane of one of said pairs of slots to engage the face portion of said jamb.

29. The combination defined in claim 26 wherein said channel means also includes an elongated bottom channel having a generally U-shaped cross section dimensioned to fit between a pair of wall panels adjacent the floor with the legs of said channel extending upwardly and a bottom anchor adapted to interconnect one of said jambs and a vertically disposed stud positioned adjacent thereto, said anchor being of generally channel shaped cross section with a bridge section and two pairs of upstanding legs, one pair of said legs dimensioned to straddle the back of said stud and the upwardly extending legs of said bottom channel and the other pair of said legs dimensioned to be received within said jamb behind the face thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Weiss 52495X Mills 52241 Winslow 52495X Hohl 52241X Olsen 52242 Johnson 52495X Danielson 1 52210 12 Johnson et a1. 52242X Miles et a1. 52495X Truman et al. 49504 Young 52241 Spangenberg 52495 OBrien 52210X Shore 52241 Brant et a1. 49-504 US. Cl. X.R. 

